A desert kingdom tucked away in the midst of hills, an impregnable citadel, an impressive royal lineage stretching back 26 generations, a do or die attitude and a fierce sense of independence characterise Udaipur. Unlike its desert counterparts in Rajasthan, Udaipur is situated in the forested, hilly region of Aravalli Ranges in complete contrast to the arid deserts of Marwar in the northwest.

Udaipur- dream destination in the desert, whose sagas of great valour and stories of high romance add colour and character to a history as proud and unrelenting as it is long. The kingdom of Mewar was ruled by the Sisodia dynasty for over 1200 years from Chittorgarh before Maharana Udai Singh II founded Udaipur in 1568 following the final sacking of their hill fortress. In sharp contrast to its spartan and martial persona are lakes, hills, temples, gardens and fairy-tale palaces that make Udaipur the most romantic and enchanting place in Rajasthan. Apart from Udaipur's own splendours, there are several other places to visit in its vicinity – Jaisamand Lake, the fort of Kumbhalgarh and the temples at Ranakpur, Eklingji, Nagda, Kankroli and Nathdwara.

Tourist Attractions

• City Palace & Museum
  Towering over the Pichola Lake on a hill lies the imposing City Palace, a majestic marvel of architecture. It is the largest palace complex in Rajasthan. Although a conglomeration of buildings constructed by various Maharanas over a period of time, the complex still manages to retain a uniformity of design. The palace has many courtyards, pavilions, terraces, corridors, rooms and hanging gardens. One can get a magnificent view of the lake and the city from the upper terraces of the palace The main part of the palace has now been preserved as a museum. You get to see the beautiful mosaics of peacocks at the Mor Chowk, the glass and mirror work in the Manak Mahal and Moti Mahal, and a beautiful collection of miniatures in Krishna Vilas.
• Jagdish Temple
  Built in 1651 by Maharana Jagat Singh, the temple is located at about 150 metres north of the entrance to the City Palace. The temple, built in Indo-Aryan style, is the largest temple of Udaipur. Here you can have a look at a black stone image of Lord Vishnu, who has been enshrined here as Jagannath, lord of the universe. A brass image of Garuda lies in front of the temple.
• Saheliyon-Ki-Bari
  To the north of the city lies Saheliyon-Ki-Bari, a garden of the maids of honour. This small ornamental garden has many fountains, delightful lotus pools, chiselled kiosks and marble elephants.
• Jag Mandir
  Commenced by Maharana Karan Singh, the island palace takes its name from Maharana Jagat Singh who had made a number of additions to it. The island has an impressive chhatri (cenotaph) carved from grey blue stone and is flanked by a row of enormous stone elephants. It is believed that Prince Khurram (later Shah Jahan) was given refuge here when he was leading a revolt against his father Jehangir. From the balconies, you get a superb view of the lake and the city.
• Bhartiya Lok Kala Mandir
  Bharatiya Lok Kala Mandir, the Indian folk arts museum, has interesting exhibits that include folk dresses, ornaments, puppets, masks, dolls, folk musical instruments, folk deities and paintings. You can also watch puppet shows that are held here daily.
• Pichola Lake
  About 4 km in length and 3 km wide, the picturesque Pichhola Lake is fringed with hills, gardens, havelis, ghats and temples. The lake was enlarged by Maharana Udai Singh II after he founded the city. The two islands on the lake, Jag Mandir and Jag Niwas, present a magnificent sight. One of the major attractions here are the boat rides. The boats leave regularly from the City Palace jetty (known as Bansi Ghat) and take you on a pleasant trip around the lake including a visit to Jag Mandir Island and other ghats around the lake.
• Pratap Memorial
  On the top of Moti Magri overlooking the Fateh Sagar Lake is the bronze statue of Maharana Pratap on his horse Chetak. Known as Pratap Smarak (memorial), the statue is kept in a well laid out garden. Legend has it that Chetak jumped an abyss of extraordinary width in the battle of Haldighati to save his master’s life.
• Fateh Sagar
  This beautiful lake, constructed in 1678, lies to the north of Lake Pichola. The lake, built by Maharana Fateh Singh, is overlooked by a number of hills on three sides and the Pratap Memorial on the north. The east bank of the lake has a pleasant drive along it. In the middle of the lake is Nehru Park—a lovely garden island that has a boat-shaped restaurant in it. The island can be accessed only by boat.
• Udai Sagar
  The Udai Sagar Lake lies 15 km east of Udaipur. It was built Maharana Udai Singh in order to provide the city with secure water supply in case of a war besides agricultural and leisure purposes. The lake is around 4 km long and 2.5 km wide with a maximum depth of around 9 metres. Today, the waters of the lake are used in the nearby zinc smelter.
• Ahar Museum
  About 3 km from Udaipur lies Ahar, the ancient capital of the Sisodias. A small government museum has on display a rare collection of antiquities including earthen pots, iron objects and other art items excavated in the region. You can also have a look at an impressive cluster of cenotaphs of the Maharanas of Mewar that stand nearby.